1 Feb 2012, 16:47
A new biometric fingerprint system was introduced into both the Garda Siochana and the immigration identification process in 2009. The Committee of Public Accounts will examine the roll-out of this new system at its meeting tomorrow, Thursday, 2nd February.
€23 million has been invested on this system and a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General showed that the system is yet to be fully operational with some Gardai still using the old ‘wet ink’ system. In the area of immigration, the new system is not being fully used because of an industrial relations dispute.
Chairman of the Committee John Mc Guinness outlined that the State is not getting a full value for the investment it has made in this new technology.
Deputy McGuinness said: “The new system is proven technology and the Report of the C&AG clearly shows that it has improved crime detection considerably. It is disheartening that it has not been fully rolled out and the Committee will be looking at the strategy that is being put in place to roll it out fully\".
On the industrial relations issue at the Garda National Immigration Bureau, Deputy Mc Guinness raised a concern that this issue has dragged on too long.
“I cannot understand how this industrial relations issue has been allowed frustrate the efforts of the State in introducing proper immigration controls. At a minimum, this matter should have been resolved under the Croke Park Agreement. The Committee will pursue the effectiveness of the Croke Park Agreement change programme in dealing with these IR type issues given that the State has already invested a considerable sum to have better identification processes for people entering the State.”
The Committee will also examine the impact of cost control measures being introduced into the Garda Siochana, including the moratorium on recruitment, the closure of Garda stations and the retirement of a large number of the force later this month due to the changes in the pension rates.
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and senior officials from the Department of Justice and Equality will attend as witnesses in committee room 1 at 10 am on Thursday, 2nd February, 2012.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI
Ends
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
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F: +3531 618 4551
Committee of Public Accounts
Membership
John McGuinness (Chairman)
Kieran O’Donnell (Vice Chairman)
Paul J Connaughton,
John Deasy,
Paschal Donohoe,
Anne Ferris,
Simon Harris,
Michael McCarthy,
Mary Lou McDonald,
Sean Fleming,
Eoghan Murphy,
Derek Nolan,
Shane Ross